Amalgamating-mill.



D. L. PENROD.

AMALGAMATING MILL.

APPLICATlON FILED IAN-27.1%].

1,230,770.a Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Q llllllllllllll D. L. PENROD.

AMALGAMATING MILL.

APPLICATION Fl'LED 1mm. 1912.

Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

D. L. PENROD.

AMALGAMATING MILL.

1,239,770 APPLICATION HFED JAN-27,191]. June 19 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

D. L. PENROD.

AMALGAMATING II/IILL.

APPLICATION FILED- IAN-27 I911 I I 1,23Q,77@, Patented June 19, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i'ul Improvements in DAVID L. PENROD, OF ALTA, UTAH.

AMALGA'MATING-MILL.

aaaomo.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented June 19, 191% Applicationfiled January 27, 1917. Serial No. 144,878.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID L. PnNRoD, a citizen of the United States,residin at Alta, in the county of Salt Lake and tate of Utah, haveinvented certain new and use- Amalgamating-Mills and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The'invention relates to improvements in ainalgamating mills.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofamalgamating mills and to provide a simple, practical and comparativelyinexpensive construction capable of thoroughly subjecting the materialto the action of the mercury and of automatically returning the mercuryto'the matcrial after the mercury has passed through the machine so thata quantity of mercury may be successively used in the machine as oftenas desired to obtain the required values.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of'construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of an amalgamating millconstructed in accordance with this invention, the main casing of themill being in section and parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

- Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section illustrating the manner ofmounting the rotary mercury spray pipes,

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating pipes.

the construction for operating the mercury spray pipes,

Fig, 8" is a plan view of a portion of the mill partly in sectionillustrating the arrangement of the troughs and the spray Fig. 9 is adetail sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred,embodiment of the invention, the amalgamating mill which is preferablyprovided with a main casing or housing 1 comprises in its constructionan upper inlet sand trough or flume 2 constituting a sluice way andlocated above a baflle casing 3 provided with horizionta baffle plates4t arranged in spaces and forming longitudinal passages and alternatelyterminating short of the opposite ends of the casing 3 to connect theadjacent passages for causing the material. to travel back and forththrough the baille casing from the top to the bottom thereof. Thematerial and the mercury are caused to fall at the outlet end of thepassages of the baiile casing for causing a. thorough mixing orintcrmingling of the sand and the mercury and the latter is deliveredinto the inlet trough or sluice way 2 by inclined rotary mercury spraypipes 5.

The mercury spray pipes 5 which are when rotated to effect adistribution of the mercury uniformly throughout the material passingthrough the inlet trough or sluice way. The inlet trough or sluice wayis provided at its inner end with an outlet 8 leading into the baiilecasing and the said trough is also provided at the outlet with anupwardly projecting flange 9 forming a stock or riflie and adapted tocollect coarse gold and prevent the same from passing through the bafliecasing.

ice

The mercury spray pipes which may be of any desired number are arrangedat intervals and are equipped with gear wheels 10 at a pointintermediate of their ends and receive arms or branches 11 of relativelyfixed pipes 12 extending from mercury troughs 13 located above and atopposite sides of the inlet trough or sulice way. The stationary pipes12 extend downwardly and the branches 11 project inwardly into the outerends of the spray pipes 5. The gears 10- are located adjacent to theouter ends of the spray pipes and the latter are provided throughout theportion of their length with the perforations 6. The rotary movement ofthe spray pipes produces a more positive flow and discharge of themercury and enables the material to be more thoroughly subjected to theaction of the same. The outer imperforate portions of the spray pipesare' preferably arranged in transversely alined bearings of sidebrackets 14. The brackets 14' are provided with laterally spaced arms orbearing portions between which are arranged the gears 10 which are inthe form of s rocket gears and which mesh with a sprocket chain 15extending beneath and over the sprocket gears or pinions for causing thesame to rotate in reverse directions and also to secure the positivemesh between the sprocket chains and the gears 10. The sprocket chain 15is also trained over a relatively large sprocket wheel 16 mounted on atransverse shaft 17 which extends entirely across the mill and isjournaled in suitable bearings thereof. The

sprocket gearing is located at each side of i the inlet trough or sluiceway as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the said shafthas also keyed or otherwise fixed to it sprocket gears 18 located at thelower ends of the mercury troughs 13 which are inclined downwardly andrearwardly from the front or inlet end of the mill. The sprocket wheels18 receive and mesh with chains 19' provided I with suitable buckets 20and forming endless conveyers. The chains 19 also pass over and meshwith gear wheels 21 of a' top front transverse shaft 22 which isjournaled in suitable bearings and also extending entirely across themill. The endless conveyers of the top mercury trough extend downwardlyto the bottom of the mill and their chains 19 pass beneath and mesh withsprocket wheels 23 located in bottom troughs 24 arranged at oppositesides of the mill as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the draw-ings. Thebuckets 20 of the conveyers of the top mercury trough are carried upwardfrom the bottom trough in an upright position for conveying mercury fromthe bottom troughs to the top mercury trough and the said buckets areinverted over the said top mercury troughs for discharging the contentsof the bucket into the top troughs 13. The

' mixed and the former is completely subjected buckets travel along thetop flights of the chains 19 in an inverted position and descend in suchposition at the inner or rear flight of the said chains 19 as clearlyillus' trated in-Fig. 4 of the drawings. The front ends of the topmercury troughs are provided with curved front walls 25 to clear thesprocket wheels 18 and the bottoms of the top mercury troughs areprovided with depressions or pockets 26 into which the mercury flows andfrom which the stationary pipes 12 diverge as clearly illustrated inFig. 2 of the drawings.

The sand and the mercury are thoroughly to the action of the mercury inpassing through the baffle casing 3. The sand in the material is spreadout in thin sheets in traveling back and forth through the passages ofthe baffle casing and the top baffle casings are provided with outlets27 communicating with concentrating casings 28 adapted to concentrateand mix the sand and the mercury to effectually separate the values fromthe sand. The concentrating and mixing casings 28 are each composed ofvinner and outer shells. 29 and 30 spaced downwardly and the spacedcurved bottom portions 33 and 34 form a curvedbottom space or passageinto which extend opposite transversely disposed mercury spray pipes 35constructed substantially the same as those heretofore described andprovided with spur gear wheels 36 which mesh with a large gear wheel 37.The gear wheels 37 of the. two sets of spray pipes 35 are mounted on atransverse shaft 38 and the pinions or gears 36 are arrangedin a curvedseries and mesh with the large gear wheels 37. The rotary spray pipes 35are oppositely inclined and they are connected with fixed pipes 39extending downwardly from' de pressions or pockets 39 of frontiriterrfiediate mercury troughs 40 located above front intermediatebaflle casings 41 with which the mixing and concentrating ca'sings areconnected. The front intermediate mercury troughs 40which are constructed substantially the same as those heretofore described aresupplied with mercury from the bottom troughs 24 by'an endless conveyer42 consisting of a series of buckets mounted on a chain.43 which meshes'125 with top front and rear sprocket wheels 44 and. 45 and a bottom46'. The bottom sprocket wheels 23 and 46 are mounted on the transverseshaft 47 extending entirely across the mill and journaled in suitable136 bearings. The buckets of the endless conveyers 4L2 convey mercuryfrom the bottom troughs to the intermediate front troughs -10 andareinverted over the same for discharging their contents into the saidtroughs 4:0. The side troughs 24: are provided with curved bottoms andthe buckets pass through the same between the bottoms of the troughs andthe gear wheels 28 and 46, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4: of thedrawings. The outer shells 30 of the mixing and concentrator casings areprovided with outlets L8 which communicate with the intermediate frontbatlie casings 4L1 constructed similar to those heretofore described andprovided with horizontal battle plates 49 terminating short of theopposite ends of the casing to provide horizontal passages with outletsalternately at opposite ends of the casing to'cause the material totravel back and forth through the baiiie casings $1. The balile casingsll are provided with outlets 50 which communicate with connectingtroughs or sluice ways 51 extending rearwardly from the baffle cas ings41 and located above rear intermediate baflie casings 53 and receivingoppositely inclined transversely disposed rotary mercury spray pipes 51arranged at an inclination and provided with sprocket pinions 55 andconnected by pipes 56 with mercury troughs 57. Thetop mercury troughs 57of the rear set are provided with bottom depressions 58 from which thestationary pipes 56 diverge and mercury issupplied to the troughs 57from side bottom troughs 59 by endless conveyers 60 consisting ofbuckets mounted on chains 61 arranged on top sprocket wheels 62 and 63and bottom sprocket wheels 64;. The front flights of the sprocket chainsof the conveyers have their buckets arranged in an upright position. andthe buckets are inverted at the top fiigl'it for discharging theircontents into the troughs 57. The wheels 62 and 63 are mounted ontransverse shafts 65 and 6 and the bottom wheels 64:

are mountcd on a transverse shaft 67. The shaft 66 carries a gear wheel68 consisting of a relatively large sprocket wheel receiving a chain 69which meshes with the sprocket pinions 55 of the spray pipes 54. Theconnecting troughs 51 discharge into the bafile casings 53 provided withbaiiie plates 70 and constructed similar to the baflle icasingsheretofore described. The. baille casings are connected withconcentrating and mixing casings 71 composed of spaced. inner and outershells and con structed similar to the casings 28 heretofore described,trating casings are equipped with mercury spray pipes 72 provided withspur pinions 73 arranged in curved series and meshing with spur gearwheels 74:. The spray pipes 72 which are constructed similar to those 87into a depression or pocket 88 and is The mixing and concenheretoforedescribed are connected by pipes 75 with depressions or pockets 76 ofside mercury troughs 77 located above and at opposite sides of thebottom of the mixing and concentrating casings. The rear mixing andconcentrating casings are connected with rear bottom bafiie casings 78con- 1 The buckets of the endless conveyers 80 are inverted over thetroughs 77 to discharge their contents into the same. The outlets of thebailie casings 7 8 communicate with outlet or discharge troughs 86 wherethe material is discharged after the values are extracted from the same.In practice a screen door suitably locked will be provided to preventaccess to the mill at the discharge or outlet trough to preventunauthorized persons from carrying away any of the values extracted orseparated from the material operatedon by the mill. The sand passes outthrough the discharge troughs 86 and the mercury. passes through abottom opening conveyed by suitable conduits 89 to the bottom troughs59. The bottom troughs 59 are connected by suitable pipes 90 with thefront bottom troughs-24: and the said bottom troughs 24 and 59 areprovided with suitable valved outlets 91 for enabling the mercury to bedrawn off as r quired. The passages or conduits 89 are preferablyportions of the bottom battle casings but the mercury may be returned-tothe front and rear bottom side troughs 24 and 59 by any other suitablemeans. The main casing or housing of the mill is designed to be providedwith suitable doors and means for locking the same. The mill is showncom posed of two units each consisting of two pairs of side mercurytroughs, and two sets of baffle casings. Any number of the units may ofcourse be employed. The mill is cp crated by. any suitable power whichmay be connected with the mill by sprocket gearing comprising'a sprocketchain 92 and a large sprocket wheel 93 mounted on the shaft 38. Theshaft 38 is connected by a suitable sprocket gearing 94 with the shaft17 and suitable sprocket gearing 95 connects the shaft 38 with the rearshaft 96 of the endless conveyers 80 and sprocket gearing 97 connectsthe shaft 96 with the rear shaft 66 of the con vcyers 60. The frontsprocket wheels 44 are mounted on a transverse shaft 98 and the frontsprocket wheels 82 are mounted on .the transverse shaft 99. The earingfor transmitting motion frointhe driving shaft 38. to the various shaftsmay be arranged in any other desired manner and any suitable gearing mayof course be employed for this purpose. The mercury may be usedcontinuously until the desired amount of values has been obtained.

Any suitable means may be employed for tightening the chains or beltsand in practice cach bearing will be equipped with a suitable dripreceptacle 100 and pipes 101 will be employed for conveying the oil tothe desired point to prevent the same mixing with the mercury. Also thebottom opening 87 will be provided with a suitable apron 102 adapted toprevent the sand from following the mercury back to the bottom tanks orreservoirs 24 and 59.

lVhat is claimed is 1. An amalgamator mill including a conduit for thematerial operated on, a plurality of rotary spray pipes extending intothe conduit and located at intervals, a mercury receptacle connectedwith the spray pipes and means for rotating the spray pipes.

2. An amalgamator mill including a conduit for the material operated onin the mill, inclined spray pipes extending into the conduit fromopposite sides thereof, upper mercury troughs located above the saidconduit and communicating with the spray pipes, means for conveyingmercury to the upper mercury troughs and means for rotating the spraypipes.

3. An amalgamator mill including a con duit for the material operated onin the mill, oppositely inclined rotary spray pipes extending into theconduit and provided with gear Wheels, mercury troughs located above thespray pipes and provided with relatively fixed pipes communicating withthe spray pipes, an endless carrier forconveying mercury to the mercurytroughs, and gearing for operating the endless carrier and for rotatingthe spray pipes.

4. An amalgamating'mill including a conduit for the material operated onand a ro- Copies of this 'patent may be" obtained for tary spray pipeextending into the passage,- means for supplying mercury to the spraypipe, and means for rotating the said spray pipe.

5. An amalgamator mill including a mixing and concentrating casingcomprising innor and outer shells having oppositely inclined upperportions and curved lower portions, said shells being spaced apart topro vide intervening passages and a curved series of spray pipesextending into the space between the bottom portions of the inner andouter shells. v

6. An amalgamator mill. including upper and lower battle casings spacedapart and having ba'lfie plates for causing the material operated on inthe mill to travel back and forth to the casings and a mixing andcomccntrator casing connecting the bafile casings and communicating withthe same, said mixing and concentrator casing comprising inner and outershells, spaced apart to provide opposite side passages and a connectingbottom passage.

7. An amalgamator mill including a plurality of baille casings providedwith baflie plates, concentrating and mixing casings arranged betweenand connected with the battle casings, rotary spray pipes arranged in.the path of the material, mercury troughs located at opposite sides ofthe mill and located above the spray pipes and connected therewith,means for rotating the spray pipes, bottom troughs connected with eachother and'with the lowermost casing, and endless conveyers extendingfrom the bottom troughs to the mercury troughs and having flightspassing over the same and discharging into the said mercury troughs. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I J. W. BODING,

C E, COLE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,' Washington,I). G.

